In general, the equationga⁢(χ)=χ⁢(a-1)⁢g1⁢(χ) (for nontrivial a and χ) reduces the computation of general Gauss sums to that of g1⁢(χ). The absolute value of g1⁢(χ) is always p as long as χ is nontrivial, and if χ is a quadratic character (that is, χ⁢(t) is the Legendre symbol(tp)), then the value of the Gauss sum is known to be